Chinese firms have placed over $16 billion in orders for Nvidia's H20 server chips, including ByteDance, Alibaba Group, and Tencent Holdings, during Q1 2025. These chips are the most advanced artificial intelligence processors Nvidia is legally permitted to sell in China under current U.S. export controls. The surge in orders is reportedly linked to demand from DeepSeek, a Chinese artificial intelligence startup. The H20 chip was introduced following U.S. export restrictions in 2023, aimed at curbing China's access to advanced semiconductor technologies.